National-Louis University

What National-Louis University does

National Louis University (NLU) is a private non-profit American university founded in 1886 by Elizabeth Harrison, a pioneer of the U.S. kindergarten movement. The institution operates six campuses in Illinois (Chicago downtown, Wheeling, Lisle, Elgin, and North Shore) and a regional campus in Tampa, Florida, complemented by 100% online and synchronous virtual classroom modalities. NLU delivers over 80 career-focused programs across five colleges: the National College of Education (teacher preparation and educational leadership), Kendall College (culinary arts and hospitality management), the Graduate School of Business and Leadership, the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (including the ISPP and FSPP legacy schools), and the Undergraduate College, with a recently launched School of Nursing signaling vertical expansion.

The underlying technology stack is built on standard higher-ed infrastructure: D2L Brightspace as the LMS, Degree Works and CAPP for degree evaluation and advising, BANNER as the student information system, WSO2 Identity Server for SSO, and Panopto for instructional video. Differentiated programmatic features include the NLU Forward Scholarship system (automated 100% tuition coverage for eligible Illinois families), the Accelerate U working-adult program, the P.A.C.E. prior-learning assessment, and the Career Bridge internship service.

NLU generates revenue primarily through tuition (per credit hour or program) and fees, with material complement from administration of federal financial aid (Pell Grants, MAP grants, military benefits) and a corporate education line serving business and government clients. The go-to-market model is sales-led, executed through enrollment specialists operating via phone, email, and virtual communications, with free online applications, rolling admissions, and Common App integration. Customer segments are dominated by educators and education professionals, business and management students, psychology/behavioral sciences students, and culinary/hospitality students, with secondary segments in military/veterans, international students (from 50+ countries), and transfer students. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees with no disclosed parent company or external investors.

Name

National-Louis University

Legal name

National Louis University

Website

https://nl.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Short description

National Louis University is a private non-profit university founded in 1886, offering 80+ career-focused certificates and degrees across education, business, psychology, culinary, and nursing through campuses in Illinois and Florida plus online delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Graduate Schools of Education (M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.) (EDAHAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Leadership & Administration Programs (EDAHAFAD), Marketing, Sales & Brand Management Schools (EDAHAHAE), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Teacher preparation
• Culinary arts education
• Graduate business degrees
• Clinical psychology training

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: NLU generates revenue primarily through tuition charged per credit hour or program. The institution offers various payment options, federal student loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities. Tuition varies by college and program level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral).
2. Financial Aid Administration: NLU administers federal financial aid including Pell Grants, MAP grants for Illinois residents, military benefits (Post-9/11 Bill, Montgomery G.I. Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program), and institutional scholarships.
3. Corporate Education: NLU offers corporate education programs for business and government clients, providing workforce development and training services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

National Louis University delivers more than 80 career-focused certificates, endorsements, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs through five colleges: the National College of Education (teacher preparation and educational leadership), Kendall College (culinary arts and hospitality management), the Graduate School of Business and Leadership (MBA, MS, and DBA programs), the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (including Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology), and the Undergraduate College, with a School of Nursing added more recently. Programs are delivered on campuses in Illinois and Florida and globally through online and virtual classroom modalities, and are supported by services such as Career Bridge (internships and job placement) and P.A.C.E. (credit for prior learning).

Product overview

National Louis University is a higher education institution offering over 80 career-focused certificates, endorsements, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs through five colleges: the National College of Education (teacher preparation and educational leadership), Kendall College (culinary arts and hospitality management), Graduate School of Business and Leadership (MBA, MS, DBA programs), College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (including Psy.D. clinical psychology), and the Undergraduate College. Programs are delivered through campus locations in Chicago and Tampa, Florida, as well as fully online and virtual classroom formats. The institution provides student support services including Career Bridge for internships and employment, P.A.C.E. for prior learning assessment, and operates on a quarter system with starts in fall, winter, spring, and summer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National College of Education (NCE)

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of MAT graduates work in Illinois public schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• Northwestern UniversitynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Northwestern University partnered with NLU and the Ryan Family Foundation on the All Evanston Hiring Hub workforce initiative. This cross-community workforce initiative connects Evanston residents who complete sector- or occupation-based training programs to employment opportunities. The three-year demonstration project aims to create a replicable model for workforce ecosystems nationwide.
• STEAMecoreTechnology or Integration · 8 July 2026STEAMe is the workforce technology company powering the All Evanston Hiring Hub. They provide shared digital hiring infrastructure and data analytics to measure placement, retention and economic impact across the workforce ecosystem.
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNLU partners with CTA to provide Ventra U-PASS to eligible full-time students during enrolled terms. The pass provides unlimited use of CTA trains and buses, allowing students to commute to the Chicago Campus with ease.
• National Student ClearinghousecoreTechnology or IntegrationNLU has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide enrollment and degree verifications, streamlining verification processes for employers, insurers, and other organizations.
• Common AppnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNLU accepts applications through the Common Application platform, providing access to millions of prospective students and simplifying the application process for transfer and first-time students.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DePaul University: Chicago-based private non-profit Catholic university with a College of Education and comparable comprehensive program mix (business, psychology, liberal arts) serving similar non-traditional and graduate student segments in the same metro.
• Loyola University Chicago: Private Jesuit comprehensive university in Chicago with graduate and professional programs across education, business, and psychology; competes with NLU for the same urban and adult-learner market.
• Aurora University: Illinois-based private non-profit university with a long-standing strength in teacher preparation and educational leadership, plus graduate business and social work programs that overlap directly with NCE and the Graduate School of Business.
• Concordia University Chicago: Private Lutheran university in River Forest, IL, with a strong College of Education and graduate programs in business, leadership, and behavioral sciences — directly comparable to NLU's Illinois-based program portfolio.
• Roosevelt University: Chicago-based private non-profit comprehensive university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in education, business, and psychology, competing with NLU for the same urban Chicago adult-learner audience.
• Adler University: Private Chicago-based university focused exclusively on professional psychology and counseling programs, including Psy.D. and master's-level clinical training — closely comparable to NLU's FSPP/ISPP psychology programs.
• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: Chicago-headquartered private university specializing in professional psychology, counseling, and behavioral sciences — directly comparable to NLU's College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, with overlapping Psy.D. and master's-level clinical training.
• Benedictine University: Private Catholic university located in Lisle, IL — sharing a campus market with NLU's Lisle location — with comparable graduate education, business, and psychology programs serving similar adult and transfer students in the western Chicago suburbs.

Broad incumbents

• National University: Large private non-profit university headquartered in San Diego with a national online and hybrid footprint, broad program catalog including education and psychology — competes with NLU's online and Virtual Classroom channels for adult learners nationwide.
• Western Governors University: Large private non-profit, fully online, competency-based university offering degree programs across education, business, and healthcare — represents scaled competition for NLU's online adult-learner enrollment, particularly in education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NationalLouisU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nlumarketing
• Facebookfacebook.com/54486905469
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationallouisu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-louis-university

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National-Louis University